Gubernatorial Candidates: Top Priorities

Hailey Higgins reports:

Ahead of next week's primary election, South Dakota's gubernatorial candidates are campaigning heavily. We sat down with all four candidates vying for the state's top position, and asked them about their highest priority if they take office in Pierre.

From strengthening the state's workforce to more oversight with the Governor's Office of Economic Development, the four gubernatorial candidates share their top priorities if they are elected Governor of South Dakota.

Incumbent Dennis Daugaard is up against Lora Hubbel in the Republican Primary.

"We need to align our education services with our workforce needs," Daugaard said. "In talking with businesses and other individuals across the state, certainly workforce today is the prime problem we face in trying to continue economic development."

Hubbel wants more oversight with the Governor's Office of Economic Development.

"If you look at it, and just get an overview, it's kind of like the 'good ol' boys club,'" Hubbell said. "(They) will make sure that (their) friends and (their) favorites have money and grants and my business doesn't get any. Most people I know don't get any. But they take care of their friends out of the Governor's Office of Economic Development."

Rep. Susan Wismer faces Joe Lowe for the Democratic nomination

"Number one, of course, education. Number two, low-wage health care workers and of course the 48,000 people that are being left off the Affordable Care Act because of South Dakota's refusal to expand Medicaid," Wismer said.

"For me, economic development is important to this state because of a couple things. When our kids graduate from college, graduate from tech schools, we want to provide decent paying jobs for them here in the state. We don't want them leaving the state and so economic development is important for that aspect for me," Lowe said.

We also ask all four candidates about their thoughts on the current education in South Dakota and what, if any, changes they would make if elected to governor.